Check protector



G. L. CHAPEL 1,743,428

CHECK- PROTECTOR Jan. 14, 1930.

Filed Jab. 17, 1927 1m) 2 m or 532mm? .3

Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- G-EORGE L. CHAPEL, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO SAFETY CHECK PROTECTOR CORPORATION, OF NORTH CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CHECK PROTECTOR Application filed January 17, 1927. Serial No. 161,489.

This invention relates to a check protector, and is particularly concerned with a novel construction by means of which checks may be embossed, and perforated with the desired figures of the amounts for which they are to be drawn and in this manner insured against alteration. It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to make a protector of this kind and character which is simple in construction, easily manufactured and assembled at low cost and which in addition to embossing and perforating the paper of the check with a series of perforations to make the desired figures also, at the same time, inks the perforated portions so that they are of greater visability and can be readily seen. And one feature of my invention resides in the novel method of obtaining such inked perforations and in a construction by means of which ink may be supplied to the inking pads.

Many other features of construction and arrangements of parts will appear as understanding of the invention is had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the check protector with certain parts broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a central Vertical section therethrough.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section through one element of the construction showing the manner of perforating and inking the check.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the inking pad holding members, a number of which are used.

elements being shown in disassembled relaparts in the different figures of the drawing. a

In the construction of the check protector a base plate 1 is provided, preferably of circular form though not necessarily so, from the center of which a boss 2 extendly upwardly, the same being interiorly bored and threaded. This boss at its upper end is reduced in size but at one side has an integral key 2* left, the outer edge of which is in line with the outer side of the larger portion of the boss. At a plurality of places around and near the outer edge of the base and on its upper side circular projections 3 are made from which the various figures and characters for a check protector of this kind extend upwardly, each terminating in a continuous series of spaced apart sharp points, as indicated at 4. In the particular check protector shown there are thirteen of the characters, ten of them being for the ten Arabic numerals, one for the dollar sign, one fora star sign and one for the words Not over which are used commonly with check protectors as a notice to the bank that the maximum amount is not to exceed what follows after the said words. boss and perforating points in the outline of the various characters desired is made, preferably, as a die casting in a single piece. On the boss 2, two washers 5 are placed, one against the other, the same havingopenings which pass the key 2 and the reduced portion of the boss. Over these washers a plate 6, preferably of spring brass, is mounted the center portion of which is substantially of; circular form and from which which a consecutive series of arms 7 radiate outwardly and are bent somewhat upwardly as shown. There are thirteen of these arms, one for each of the characters of the check protector. At the outer end of each arm a pad holding housing 8 is located having an open upper side, there being integral pins 9 extending from the housings 8 and passing through openings in the ends of the arms 7, the ends of the pins This base plate with the member 8 openings are made corresponding "to the various characters of the checkpro- 'tector. These housings with the openings in the bottom thereof are located directly over the like characters indicated at 4. For instance, as shown in Fig. 4:, the bottomof the housing 8 shows the outline of the, figure 2 and this comes directly over the character indicatedat 4 in Fig. 5 which likewise is the figure 2 with a series of perforating points projectingupwardly therefrom. In the end of each arm 7 an opening 12 may be made through which ink may be supplied to the pad underneath.- The center, opening through the member 6, indicated at 6 inFig. 8, is such that it passes over the reduced portion of the boss'2 receiving the key 2 in the keyway made therefor, whereby this member 6 is held securely against any movement with respectto the base 1.

Over the member 6 a like member 13 of sheet metal is placed, having arms14; pro-v jecting radially therefrom, one of which hes over each arm 7 of the member 6. The central opening through the member 13 is of a size tofreely pass the screw 15, shown n Fig. 7, supplied with a head 16 whereby when this screw is;inserted through the members 13, 6and 5 into 'theboss 2 andtightenedthe parts are firmly held together; but on loosf ening the screw slightly the upper member 13 may be turned with respect to the lower member-6 so as to uncoverthe openings 12, as

acter to be operated would be that labeled Not over, it being apparent, as shown in I Fig.1, that each of the arms 1 1 at its outer I acter in the paper of the check. Then fol end is supplied with an indication of the character below such that on depression of the arm-it Willperforate and ink such charlows the dollar sign, then the figures relating to dollars, then the star sign to indicate the decimal point between dollars and cents, and then the figures for the cents; The paper. is perforated and the perforations pressed upwardlyagainst the lower side .of the pad 10. Also the paper will be'embossed to a certain extent. by reason of the upwardly'extending.

ridges which carry the perforating points also passing upwardly into the openings 11 in the lower sides of the housings 8. Thus there will then be formed embossed and perforated characters, the points of the perfo rations being inked making it nektto' impossible to change or alter the check so as to make it difierent from the amount for which it was drawn. By reasonof the spring character of the material in the plate 6 as soon as the perforating, has been accomplished; and pressure removed the housing 8 will move away from the perforating die 8. The pads 10 within the housing may be supplied with difl'erent colors of ink if it is thought desirable though this isin no way necessary. to the operation of the device.

The constructiondescribed is simple, practical and durable and has so. proved in practice. The appended claims define the inven tion which is to be'considered comprehensive I. claim 1. In a check protector, a base member, a

movable member located a distance above the base member, a housing secured to the movablemember and having a character shaped opening, a pad adapted to contain'ink located within the -housing, and a punchformed on the base memberdirectly below the opening in the housing having a raised character corresponding to said opening and having a series of upwardly projecting perforating points on said raised character, substantially as described. I V V 2. A check protector comprising, abase, a plurality of raised characters on said base around'the same projecting upwardly, each of said characters having a plurality of upwardly extending perforating points, a spring member located over the base and spaced therefrom including a plurality of is arms,"a housing carried on the under side and at the outer end of each arm directly. over i said characters on the base, said housing hav- -ing an openingcorresponding in form to the in combination defined in claim 2, combined with a third member of sheet metal located over the spring member and likewise having a plurality of arms located one over 'eac hza rm of the spring members, means for binding all of the members together, means for bolding the spring member against movement "with respect to the base member, means each housing, each of the armsof the spring member over its pad beingprovided with an opening for the insertion 10f ink which is uncovered by moving the third member away from its normal position, substantially as described.

4. In a check protector, a base member formed with an upwardly projecting character, a plurality of perforating points eX- tending from said character, a spring member mounted above and spaced from the base member, a cup-shaped housing having an opening in its lower side corresponding in form to the character located under said housing, pins extending from said housing through openings in the spring member headed over to attach the housing member to the spring member, and a pad located within the housing, said spring member directly over the pad being formed with an opening for the supply of ink to the pad, substantially as described.

5. In a construction of the class described, a base having a projecting boss and formed a distance from the boss with an upwardly projecting raised character from which a plurality of perforating points extend upwardly, a spring member keyed to said boss extending therefrom over said character, a

housing located under and secured to the spring member directly over said character, said housing in its under side being formed with an opening corresponding to the shape of said character, an inking pad in said housing, and means for securing the spring member to the base.

6. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 5, combined with a third member located above said boss and extending over the spring member, means passing through said member and said spring member to the boss for binding the parts together, said third member being freely rotatable with respect to the boss on release of said binding means, said spring member being provided with an opening directly over the housing and an ink receiving pad located within the housing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE L. CHAPEL. 

